Duplicating mechanism



March 18, 1941. A, p RUTHERFORD 2,235,170

DUPLICATING MECHANI SM Filed Nov.'2l, 1938 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 18, 1941.

A. P. RUTHERFORD DUPLICATING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 2l, 1938 s sheets-shet 2 1 s1 A. P. Ruf/)encor March 18, 1941. A p, RUTHERFORD' n y 2,235,170

DUPLI CATING MECHAN I SM Filed Nov. 21, 1938 s sheets-sheet 5 a 27 /5 Z 5l M Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating machines, and has for its general object the provision of a. means for interleaving the printed sheets discharged by the duplicating machine to prevent them from oisetting one on the other.

It is well known that in printing and duplicating machines of various types, and especially those operating at more or less high speeds and using a relatively slow drying ink, the yprinted sheets discharged will when they lie together tend to offset, each sheet on the back of the sheet above it. In order to avoid this offsetting and the consequent marring of the backs of the printed sheets various attempts have been made to provide means for placing a blank sheet which may be either of blotting paper or otherwise between the printed sheets as the printed sheets are discharged from the machine. Where the machines operate at high speeds, however, that is, at speeds above sixty per minute, for example, difficulty has been encountered with the interleaving devices provided in the past because of the fact that the interleaving sheets would not move into position fast enough to catch the successive sheets as they came from the duplicating machine. The result would be, invariably, when the speed of the machine became great that the printed sheets issuing from the duplicating machine would strike the pile of printed sheets and -interleaving sheets before the last interleaving sheet had reached its proper position on the last printed sheet. This would cause a balling up of the sheets and necessitate stopping the machine,r

removing the spoiled sheets and starting the machine again. In addition to the spoilage and loss from that source, this, of course, necessitates loss of time due to the stoppage of the machine. In laddition to this is the fact that the machine must Ibe operated at a relatively slow speed for the interleaving mechanisms to operate at all satisfactorily.

It is, therefore, a more specific object of this invention to provide an interleaving device for a duplicating machine which will be operable at relatively high speeds without danger of balling up or jamming the apparatus.

Another obje-ct of this invention is to provide such a device in which the interleaving sheets will move into operative position rapidly and at a speed dependent upon the speed of operation of the machine so that at high speeds the inter; leaving sheets will move into place more rapidly than lat slow speeds of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a series of interleaving sheets adapted to cooperate with the machine provided to produce a highly efficient interleaving assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for holding a sheaf of interleaving sheets in proper position with respect to an interleaving device and a duplicating machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear, it being understood that the following description and the accompanying drawings are given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a duplicating machine'having an interleaving device therein constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and illustrating more in detail the interleaving mechanism and the position of the interleaving sheets.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the supporting and releasing element for the interleaving sheets.

Fig. 5 is a similar View taken at substantially right angles to Fig. 4 and showing the means for supporting said element and the means for guiding the'interleawng sheets.

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross section through said element taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through said element taken along the line 'I-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the types of interleaving sheets employed.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the other type of interleaving sheet employed.

Referring now more in detail to the dr-awings, the numeral I indicates the base of the duplicating machine and the numerals 2 and 3 the side frame members thereof. The paper to be printed is placed upon the base as shown at 4 between a pair of guides 5 and 6 and is adapted to be fed beneath the cylinder 'I asr shown at 8 in-Fig. 3. When vpassing beneath the lcylinder l the sheet 8 is held against the cylinder 'I -by means of a suitable roller 9 so that it is printed during this passage. 'Ihe details of the printing mechanism form no -part of this invention and hence will not be described'in detail. It is suicient to say that the cylinder 'I may be driven by any suitable means such as by a belt I0 passing over a pulley I I at one end of the cylinder and that the cylinder itself is rotatably mounted by means of a shaft I2 journalled in the side frame members 2 and 3. A counter I3 may if desired be employed.

It will further be noted that as the sheets are discharged after the printing operation they are adapted to fall into a tray I4 f-rom which they can readily ybe removed from time to time.

In accordance with this invention the side frame members 2 and 3 are provided with extensions I5 and I6 which in this instance are shown as being bolted to the side frame mem-bers at I1 and I 8. J ournalled in the outer portions of these extensions I5 and I6 is a shaft I9 secured to the opposite ends of a cylindrical releasing member 20. This cylindrical member is mounted as shown in Fig. 3 at a substantial height above the point at which the printed sheets aredischarged into the tray I4 and is adapted to be driven by means of a sprocket 2l connected by a chain 22 or the like to a second sprocket 23 which is driven at a 1 rate of speed depending upon the rateo-f speed of the cylinder 1. The ratio of the driving mechanism is such that for each fullrevolution pi vthe cylinder 1 the cylindrical releasing member 2Q will rotate one-half of one revolution. A

At the opposite end ofthe tray I4 from the cylinder 'I the tray is in accordance with this invention left open and there is mounted substantially on a level on the bottom of the tray and extending from one side to the other a xed support 24. This xed support is adapted to receive the lower ends of a staple-like member 25 which in turn is adapted to pass through suitable openings in the sheets 26 and 21 forming the sheaf of interleaving sheets designated as a whole by the numeral 28. This staple-like member 25 is detachably mounted on the support 24 and is inclined with respect to the bottom "of the tray I4 so that a line drawn perpendicular to this staplelike member from the mid portion of the sheaf of interleaving sheets will pass through or very near to the cylindrical support 20. It will be seen that by this arrangement each of the sheets 2B and 21 of the sheaf 28 will as it is supported upon the cylindrical releasing member 20 have its end resting thereon in substantially the same position as all of the other sheets.

Referring now to the details of the cylindrical releasing member 29, it will be seen in Fig/5 that this member is cut awayat a central portion 29 for a considerable distance longitudinally of the member and that in this cutting away, approximately one-half of the circumference of the member is removed. Likewise, at positions spaced from the opposite ends of the cut away portion 29 there are other cutaway portions 30, the openings in this instance being diametrically opposite to the opening 29. Thus, approximately one-half of the member 2U is cut away at 29 and approximately the opposite half of the member 20 is cut away at each of the points 30. Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that that portion of the cylindrical member 20 which is not cut away at 30 is provided with a part 3l making it of progressively greater outer radius from the leading edge 32 of this part to the trailing edge 33. Likewise, that portion of the cylindrical member 20 which lies in the zone with the cutaway portion 29 is provided with a part 34 which makesI it oi progressively greater radius from the leading edge 35 to the trailing edge 36. The purpose of these portions 3| and 34 Will be presently set forth.

There are preferably secured to the members I5 and I6 at the opposite ends of the cylindrical member 28 guides 31 and 38, respectively, adapted to guide the interleaving sheets as they pass by the cylindrical releasing member 20,

The different types of interleaving sheets are shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and are designated respectively by the numerals 26 and 21 heretofore employed in referring to these sheets. Both of these sheets are provided with holes 39 at one end for the purpose of receiving the staple-like member 25 which holds them in registering position with respect to each other and maintains one end of the sheaf of sheets in proper position with respect to the releasing member as shown in Fig 3. At the opposite end of each of the sheets 26 these sheets are provided with extended portions or ears 40 and 4I. These earsI are spaced apart and the sheets cut away intermediate the ears as shown at 42. The other sheet 21 is provided with cut away portions 43 and 44 at its opposite corners at its end opposite the opening 39. Inter- :mediate these cutaway portions this sheet is provided with an ear or projecting portion 45 which `is of less extent than the cutaway portion 42 over each other in registering relation with respect to each other the ears 4U and 4I will not in any way overlap the ear 45 but will be spaced therefrom and an appreciable space will be provided between these ears.

Now, in building up the sheaf 28, the sheets 26 and 21 are alternately used so that the sheaf 28 consists of a plurality of sheets 26, each pair of sheets 26 having interposed between them one of the sheets 2'1.

In operation, a sheaf 28 of the interleaving' sheets having a staple 25 passing therethrough as shown in Fig. 3 is placed upon the machine described with the lower of the interleaving sheets resting upon the cylindrical releasing member 2D. The duplicating machine is then operated, the sheets 4 being fed in the usual manner and emerging as shown in Fig. 3. The re-U leasing member 20 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, the upper surface of this member rotating toward the ends of the interleaving sheets mounted thereon.

Let it be assumed for example that the lowermost sheet in the sheaf 28 is one of the sheets 26. The sheaf will be supported by the member 28 as it rotates until the leading edge of the cut away openings 3D passes under the tabs or ears 40 and 4I. As further rotation continues after this point passes under these ears, the ears will pass into the cylindrical member 20 and drop against its lower inner wall. As this leading edge passes out from under the ears 40 and 4I the sheet 26 wil] be permitted to drop to the bottom of the tray I4 in position to receive the next printed sheet as it is emitted. At this point, however, the leading edge of the opening 29 is passing beneath the end of the tab or ear 45 of the next sheet 21, and as rotation of the member 20 continues this ear 45 will pass into the interior of the member 20 and be released therefrom in the same manner at the proper time to fall upon the next printed sheet as it emerges from the duplicating machine.

The operation just described is that which takes place as it is slowly operated. When the machine is rapidly operated, however, the

sheets 26 and 21 will not of their own accordv drop into place in the tray I4 at a sufficiently rapid rate to catch the sheets 8 as they emerge from the duplicating machine. This is, of course, because of the air cushion which exists under each sheet as it is released and which causes it to, so to speak, iioat downwardly intov its position in the tray. In the present invention, however, as these sheets are released by the leading edge of each of the openings 29 and 35, the trailing edge of each of these openingswill come around so rapidly as to strike the upper surface of each of the tabs 40 and 4l and 45 in' turn and forcibly urge these sheets downwardly at a speed proportional to the speed at which the machine is being operated.` The interleaving sheet'releasing mechanism herein described operates, therefore, not only to release the interleaving sheets so that they may drop into their proper position but serves first to releasethemand then to urge them forcibly into their operating position at a speed depending upon the speed of the machine. It has been found that this arrangement makes possible speeds of 300 per minute or higher without any tendency of the machine to clog up. It will, therefore, be Seen that not only has it been made possible to greatly speed up the duplicating machines over what was possible with interleaving devices provided in the prior art, but that stoppage due to clogging up of the machines has been practically eliminated.

It will lbe appreciated that the interleaving sheets 26 and 2T are of relatively stiff material, and that as one of these sheets rests upon that portion of the member 20 which is not cut away, the next sheet above it would ordinarily be carried over the trailing edge of the cut away portion through which it is adapted to pass without contacting that trailing edge. In order, however, to make certain that the second sheet from the bottom of the sheaf as it rests upon the member 20 does not catch upon the edge 32 or the edge as the case may be, the parts 3| and 34 are provided as above described. With these parts in place, assuming that the sheet 25 for example is the lowermost sheet in the sheaf, the tabs and 4I Will rest upon the elements 3l. As the member 20 rotates, these tabs il and 4l will be caused to ride up on the elements 3| until at the point 33 the entire sheaf has been raised slightly with respect to the member 2B. At this position, the edge 35 approaches the end of the sheaf and due to the elevated position of the sheaf this edge 35 will easily pass under the tab of the second of the interleaving sheets Without coming in contact with the end of that tab. Likewise, as rotation of the member continues and the rst sheet 26 referred to is released, the tab 45 will ride up on the member 3d until it rests thereon at the point 33. At this point, the edges 32 will pass under the tabs d@ and 4l of the third sheet and due to the elevated position of the sheaf being held up by the tab '35 bearing on the point 36, the edge 32 will pass under the tabs 4D and 4l without any danger of coming in contact with the ends of these tabs.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the machine provided is capable of operation at very much higher speeds than the machines of the prior art and is capable of carrying out all of the objects and advantages sought by this invention. It will be seen, furthermore, that a special type of interleaving sheets has lbeen provided for cooperating with the interleaving device set forth herein. It will be appreciated that various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the various parts making up this invention Without departing from the spirit or the scope thereof so long as they are within the scope of the appended claims. By way of example, it will be appreciated that the supporting and releasing member 20 may be'in other than cylindrical form and that the out away portions 29 and 33 need not be exactly semi-cylindrical. Furthermore, the particular nature of the driving mechanism by which the interleaving device is driven may be varied as desired, so long as the interleaving device is driven at the proper speed With respect to the speed of the duplicating machine. It will also be appreciated that more than two types of interleaving sheets may if desired be employed with corresponding changes in the details of the various parts.

Having described my invention, I claim: v

1. In a device for releasing interleaving sheets, i

a cylinder adapted to rotate about its own axis and having a portion cut outofoneside thereof in one zone and another portion cut out of the opposite side thereof in another zone, a sheaf of interleaving sheets having one end resting on said cylinder, said sheets being of alternate types, one of which has parts positioned, and of a size to enter and freely pass through one of said cut out portions to be released thereby and the other of which has parts positioned, and of a size to enter and freely pass through the other of said cut out portions to be released thereby as said cylinder is rotated, and means for rotating said cylinder toward said sheaf.

2. In a device for releasing interleaving sheets, a cylinder adapted to rotate about its own axis and having a portion cut out of one side thereof in one zone and another portion cut out of the opposite side thereof in another zone, a sheaf of interleaving sheets having one end resting on said cylinder, said sheets being of alternate types, one of which has parts positioned, and of a size to enter and freely pass through one of said cut out portions to be released thereby and the other of which has parts positioned, and of a size to enter and freely pass through the other of said cut out portions to be released thereby as said cylinder is rotated, and means for rotating said cylinder.

3. In a device for releasing interleaving sheets, a cylinder adapted to rotate about its own axis and having a portion cut out of one side thereof in one zone and another portion cut out of the opposite side thereof in another zone, said cylinder having a, part projecting outwardly beyond its regular contour in each zone in longitudinal alignment with the trailing edge of the cut out portion in the other zone.

4. In a mechanism for releasing interleaving sheets, a member rotatable on a horizontal axis, a sheaf of interleaving sheets of different alternating types having one end adapted to be supported by said member, said member having a plurality of zones, each of which has alternating supporting parts adapted to support one of said types of sheets, and open parts' adapted to permit the passage of the same type of sheets, and b-oth types of said sheets being shaped to clear all zones of said member except those zones having parts adapted to support the particular sheet in question, said member having parts for raising each type of sheet to a higher point on the approach of a part of said member adapted to support a sheet of a. different type.

5. In a mechanism for releasing interleaving sheets, a member rotatable on a horizontal axis, a sheaf of interleaving sheets of different alternating types having one end adapted to be supported by said member, said member having a plurality of zones, each of which has alternating supporting parts adapted to support one of said types of sheets, and open parts of an extent to permit the free passage of the same type of sheets, and both types of said sheets being shaped to clear all zones of said member except those having parts adapted to support the particular sheet in question.

6. A set of interleaving sheets including sheets of two types, each having tongue-like parts projecting from one end thereof, one of said types having a pair of such projecting parts spaced laterally from each other and the other of `said types having one such part of less extent than the space between said parts on the first type and positioned to lie between said parts on the first type when said two types of sheets overlie and register with each other.

7. A set of interleaving sheets includingsheets of two types, each type having tongue-like parts projecting from one end thereof, said projecting parts on adjacent sheets being offset from each other and having a substantial space between them when sheets of said two types overlie and register with each other.

8. A set of interleaving sheets including sheets of two types, each having tongue-like parts projecting from one end thereof, said projecting parts on adjacent sheets being offset from each other so as to not overlie each other when sheets of said two types overlie and register with each other.

AUGUSTUS P. RUTHERFORD. 

